Sidewalk covering or protector.



No. 673,580. Patented May 7,1901;

R. LUSTIG. SIDEWALK GOVERING 0R PROTECTOR.

(Application mea Jn. 14, 1901:

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT S1I@ EEICE.

RUDOLF LUSTIG, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY V. .IALASS, OF SAME PLACE.

SIDEWALK COVERING OR PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 673,580, dated May 7, 1901.

Application filed January 14, 190]. Serial No. 43,154. (No model.)

To all whom, it wila/y concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLF LUSTIG, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of W'isconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sidewalk Coverings or Protectors, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in sidewalk coverings or protectors.

One object is to provide a framework of peculiar construction adapted to be placed upon a sidewalk during Winter Weather when the pavements become slippery and dangerous through the snowy or icy coatings thereon.

An improved object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form of device of the above character which is of such construction that the covering can be rolled up when not in use, so as to provide for its being conveniently stored away in compact form and requiring but a minimum 'of space.

A further object is to provide a'sirnple means for preventing the ends of the covering from curling up.

A still further object is to provide a convenient means for connecting different sections of the covering together.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view the invention consists 1 of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter set forth.-

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side edge View of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section longitudinally of the covering. Fig. et is a view of a fragment of the covering, illustrating the manner of rolling it up; and Fig. 5 is a view illustrating the preferred means for uniting sections of the covering together.

The coveringis made up of a series of slats 6, composed, preferably, of wood, said slats having their adjacent longitudinal edges suitably spaced apart. The slats are maintained the required distance apart by means of spacing bars or blocks 7, preferably of rounded contour or of cylindrical form, so as to adapt the covering to be readily rolled. These spacing-bars are arranged in alinement, and any desired number of lines may be provided.

In the drawings I have shown two of such lines; but it is obvious that successful results might be obtained by providing only one line arranged centrally of the slats, or more than 55 two lines may be employed, if desired. For connecting the slats and the spacing-bars together I provide wires or other flexible cords 8. The ends of these wires are secured to staples 9, driven into the end slats, and each 6o Wire is then passed through alined openings extending transversely through the slats and bars, the openings of the slats being indicated by the numeral 10 and the openings of the bars by the numeral 1l. Owing to the round- 65 ed contour of the spacing-bars and the flexibility of the wires, it is obvious that the covering may be readily rolled up and unrolled. The outer edge of each end slat is preferably beveled, as indicated by the numeral 12, in 7o order to obviate the danger of a pedestrian stumbling by reason of his foot coming in contact with the covering.

In order to prevent the end slats from curling, I provide the ends of a few of the terminal slats (four being shown, as so provided in the drawings) with grooves 13, in which bars 14, preferably of metal, are fitted. If prefer-red, only one end of each of these slats may be provided with a groove, and hence 8o only one bar employed, as this would prevent the difficulty alluded to,although not perhaps so effectually as by the double arrangement shown in the drawings.

Where a pavement of considerable length is to be covered, it may be desirable to provide several lengths of the coverings. In that case the end slats of two of the sections are made to abut each other and said end slats secured together in any desirable man- 9o ner, as by nailing or by staple connection.

In Fig. 5, however, IshoW the preferred means for connecting the sections, which consists in fitting in the end grooves 13 of the slats a long strap l5, which extends from one section to the other. The ends of this strap are preferably bent down against the sides of the slats, as indicated by the numerals 16 16, whereby an effectual lock against the sections separating is provided.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a sidewalk covering o'r protector, the

combination of a series of slats, spacing-bars of elongated cylindrical form, and arranged lengthwise between adjacent edges of the slats, and parallel with the lengths of the slats, and flexible cords passing transversely through the slats and through the bars.

2. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination of a series of slats, spacing-bars of elongated cylindrical form and arranged lengthwise between adjacent edges of the slats and parallel with the lengths of the slats, and a plurality of flexible cords passing transversely through a series of the spacing-bars and transversely through the slats.

3. In a sidewalk covering or protector, the combination of a series of slats, a plurality of the terminal slats provided each at one end with a groove, the several grooves being alined, of a straight, heavy strap or bar fitting in said alined grooves, and thereby extending from one to the other of said grooved terminal slats, to thereby form a weight for holding the end of the covering down, the outer edge of said strap being flush, or substantially ush, with the outer surfaces of the grooved ends of the slats, to provide for the ready removal of the straps.

4. The combination with a sidewalk covering or protector composed of sections, each section comprising va series ot' slats ilexibly connected together, one or more of the terminal slats of each section provided at an end with a groove, the several grooves being alined, of a straight strap removably tted in the grooves in the ends of the terminal slatsy of the adjacent sections, and thereby extending from one section to the other and serving to connect said adjacent sections.

5. In combination with a sidewalk covering or protector composed of sections, each section comprising a series of slats ilexibly connected together, one or more of the terminal slats of each section provided at an end with a groove, the several grooves being alined, of a straight strap fitted in the grooves in the ends of the terminal slats of the adja- :ent sections, and thereby extending from one section to the other and serving to conneet said adjacent sections, the opposite ends of said strap being bent downwardlyadjacent to the sides of the slats.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RUDOLF LUSTIG.

Witnesses:

ANNA V. FAUST, A. L. MORSELL. 

